Storyboard

Storyboard



Animatic

Animatic

Film Production Diary

Film Production Diary

 

Day One
Originally, we were supposed to film our outside scenes, including the car scenes. But this plan soon went out the window, because every time we tried to film something, it was way too dark to film. So, this handed us a set back, but instead we just filmed the inside scenes. We only got a few scenes filmed, in the 3 hours of filming, however, we got a lot of different shots of the scenes, so we have a lot to choose from when it comes to editing. On this particular day we had to battle through some pretty cold temperatures, in a garage, so some of the time we couldn't film as our hands were rather numb.


During the filming process we had a few set backs, as on days we planned to film, we were let down by some members of the group, and so filming was cancelled.


Day Two
Today we had a lot to get through, and so we started earlier than the first day. We firstly filmed the rest of the inside scenes, as there were scenes that didn't look good, from our previous days filming. Once getting through the inside scenes, we had to film outside. We knew we were filming outside today, but none of us thought of checking the weather forecast, and so when it came to filming outside, we had the cameraman and his umbrella holding assistant. Although, this doesn't sound professional, we were able to film outside, and kept the camera completely dry. However, I do not recommend getting someone to hold the umbrella who, is easily distracted. Once getting past the rain obstacle, we managed to complete the filming. Another problem we had was the lines. Trying to get certain group members to remember their lines was almost a mission impossible. After many takes and much frustration, we got through this scene, and managed to complete the filming.

Although, we only used two days to film, which could make some people believe the film isn't good quality, we spent several hours filming both days, and also we made sure every time we shot a scene we had several shots, from several angles, before we moved onto the next scene.

Analysis of Film Title

Analysis of Film Title

 

Our film is called 'Backstabber'.
I believe this is a good title for the film, because it fits very well with our storyline. Our story follows a special agent who loses the love of his life, and with his special agent partner, plans his revenge. But, his partner isn't exactly honest, as his partner is working on the other side, against him. Thus the title of 'Backstabber'.
I believe the title is also good because there aren't any big budget, well known films called this!

Analysis of Sound Effects chosen

Analysis of Sound Effects Chosen

 

In our film we had a few sound effects. These include; a gun shot and a punch.
We got these sound effects from www.sfx.co.uk Which is free, and useful a website for thousands of different sounds.

This was the category we used to find a gun shot sound. It was particularly helpful.
All the sounds we found we very helpful, and sounded very real and quite convincing. 

Finding Non-Copyright Music

Finding Non-Copyright Music

 

In my opinion this was one of our hardest tasks.
When trying to find the music we used http://www.incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/, which is a free website for music.
When it came to searching for our music we used the 'feel' of Action.

We then scrolled down and, after listening to several pieces of music, we found 'Hitman' and 'The Descent'. We used both pieces because either one or the other, represented different scenes, or emotions. Also, they pieces of music were very good quality.

Analysis of Name Chosen for Production Company

Analysis of Name Chosen for Production Company

 

When deciding a name for our production company because we wanted to be original, creative, and have something that stands out.
As a group we discussed it for a little while, and after some time we came up with DERJ Productions.
Basically, DERJ Productions, is the first initial of every member in the group, combined. (Dylan, Emma, Reece, Jack.)
We thought this was a good production company name as it is definitely original, and in my opinion it is quite creative!

^^^^^^^^^^^

Analysis of Font Chosen for Title Sequences

Analysis of Font Chosen Title Sequence

 

Choosing our font was a relatively easy process, as we used the free font website DaFont, www.dafont.com

When we got onto the website we began scrolling down the homepage, as the homepage displays the newest fonts. After scrolling for a little while we came across a font that interested us called 'Buy More'.

We liked this font because it was an attractive font, and it seem good in relation to a Thriller.

Research into Title Sequences

Research into Title Sequences

 

Creep is a 2004 independent British horror film. It is about a woman who is locked overnight in the London Underground, who finds herself be stalked and terrorised by a hideously deformed killer, living in the sewers below the London Underground.

 

The opening titles start with the presentation of the 'UK FIlm Council' logo, but it isn't shown steady, it is presented very shakily, which could represent the psychopathic creepiness of the entire film. When the titles commence, we're faced with disturbing images, consisting of huge, blood and dirt covered knives and intimidating tools used for torment and torture. Here, as audience members, we're faced with the realisation of the horror and brutality of the film. Images of the same calibre occur throughout the whole title sequence, every image highlights the sheer barbarity and pure desperation of the characters in the film.

 

The font/text within the title sequence is slightly smudged, or even blurred, this could be used to represent the dirt, and grime of the Underground. The text is splattered across the screen like ink, or blood, which could show how it's not a clean or hygienic place. Also, in the sequence the images we see behind the font, all appear to be yellow tinted. When something is yellowed, it tends to be considered as old, or dirty. we could consider this to be the case, as the Underground has been around for over 100 years. When the names of the actors starring in the film are presented, they are displayed to look like a train is going past, and the lights are shining along their names.

Creep Opening Titles

 



Script

Script

 

This is our script. Some things have been altered, as during filming we made decisions to change some scenes, which meant changes in the script!

Jack: *shouting* where’s Reece?

Emma: *crying/upset* I don’t know

Jack: *shouting* liar, where is he?

Emma: I’ve told you, I don’t know!

[Jack walks out]

 

EMMA – finally gets her hand free, gets her phone from her shoe

*picture fades*

Emma: Reece

Reece: Emma?

Emma: It’s Jovan! He’s got me Reece, I’m so scared

Reece: It’s gonna be ok, I’m gonna find you, and I’m gonna get you out of there

Emma: No, it’s not Reece, I’m so scared

Reece: Look, you’re gonna be fine, I’m coming to get you-

Emma: Reece, stop, listen, he’s going to kill me,

Reece: No, Emma, don’t say that, you’ll be fine, I promise,

*BANG*

*picture appears*

Reece: Emma? Emma! Shit! Jovan! *smashes phone*

 

DYLAN AND REECE – go into garage, after a little while, to find Emma’s dead body

 

Reece: Emma! No!

Dylan: Calm down mate, she’s gone,

Reece: No! *hits/slaps/punches Dylan*

Dylan; I’ll let that one go, but you need to calm down! We’ll get Jovan!

Reece: We’ll get him tonight!

 

*picture fades* SCENE CHANGES

*Dylan and Reece pull up in the car*

*Dylan begins munching on his apple*

*Reece begins watching Jovan through his binoculars*

 

Reece: I’m going after him

Dylan: Come on then,

Reece: No, I’m doing this on my own,

Dylan: Be careful pal,

Reece: I will, *loads gun* this one’s for Emma,

 

*Reece follows Jovan into the garage, he points his gun to the back of Jovan’s head, Jovan slowly turns, with his hands up, then Reece sustains a blow to the back of his head caused by a Masked Figure, he falls to the floor, his guns falls just in front of him, the Masked Figure appears out of the dark, the Figure removes his mask, and its Dylan! Dylan and Jovan smile sinisterly, as Reece is reaching for his gun*

*Picture fades*

*A gunshot is heard*

 

 

 

THE END

Mood Board

Mood Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully it gives you the overall feel of our Thriller.

Audience Research

Audience Research

 

We decided to ask a few people in school a few questions to delve into the film market from other peoples point of view. We filmed their answers. The following five questions were the questions that were asked.

1. What is your favourite genre of film?
2. How do you watch films?
3. How often do you go to the cinema?
4. Would you watch a Thriller involving a mafia boss and two special agents?
5. What's your favourite flavour of popcorn?

Analysis of Past Students Thrillers

Analysis of Past Student Thrillers


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NATerPlKaFI

(Youtube said no videos matched the link above but it works)

The films starts with the production company ident, "Seascape Productions".

The film is about a police officer, who suffers a bereavement, and decides to take the law in to her own hands. She finds the man who killed her friend, and begins to torture him.
I believe the title chosen, 'Independent Law', is particularly fitting as the film depicts the ideas given by this title.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the finished film is very well edited and thoroughly thought through. The film shows that a lot of effort went into it. 

Coursework Brief

Coursework Brief

 

In my Coursework, I will regularly be updating my blog with information on what we are doing with different recordings.

I will also be posting about shot lists and general planning documents for our final recording which is a Thriller.

Style of Editing

Style of Editing

 

There is nothing much to the style of editing other than how the shots are actually linked together and what type of transaction is used to get from one scene to another. This can mean is the transition clean and smooth or is it jagged and fast as this can give the effect of emotions that the person is portrayed as having in the film. One style is straight cut this is where one shot will just instantly move to another. With no fade in or fade out just quick and straight to the point.

Speed of Editing

Speed of Editing

 

The speed of editing is usually used to make the audience feel different things. For example if the audience are to feel suspense or anxiety then the scene should be quick. This means the scene can literally last for a few seconds and then change to something else so the audience are left thinking and worried for the main character. However if the scene is to be more relaxed and slow then the scene can last for much longer times so they can show there is nothing wrong. For example this can be used in comedy films or romances. In some films the speed of editing is not even there. This is because the film was taken in one long take. This means the one person recording was the whole film. This needs split second timing and actors that know exactly what they need to do. Speed of editing is also used in trailers as well. This is why they pack as much information into it as quick as possible. This is so the audience will be wondering what will happen next and what is actually going to happen in the film.

Continuity Editing

Continuity Editing

 

Continuity editing is just simply keeping everything smooth and flowing in time. For example it would not be continuity editing if there was a bad edit in the clip. This would be if there was a cut off but you see a scene that was not supposed to be kept in the actual clip. This can also be making sure everything is the same for different sessions. For example if on the film the person is wearing a red shirt then it says "1 hour later" then it shows the person wearing a blue shirt, this is bad continuity editing. This leaves the audience wondering if that was meant to happen.

Mis-En-Scene

Mise-En-Scene

 

Mise-En-Scene is when there are two images that are there to be compared. For example; if we put an image of a women looking sad then we put an image next or after that of something like a baby crying this can be suggested that the women is either happy or some way sad. In simple terms it is the surroundings and placement of people in the set. For example the surroundings can be as follows. Red or orange can represent a warm area where it is safe. A blue area can mean a sad or cold area. For example in a film we saw a blue area where a couple was in it and could not talk to each other what suggests it also means emotionless. Also it can be the placement of people around the set. For example a conversation could be going on and there could be someone in the background listening in on the conversation. Usually the person would be blurred out but in this case they are not this is so you look at them more what makes them more suspicious. Another example of this could be the lighting for example low key lighting gives a effect of mystery. Or a color effect what is called color splash this or focus this is when you make everything in the scene a dark color but then one thing stands out the most form the others. Like in a film where someone was carrying a glass of milk but we couldn't see the mans face or what he was wearing because it was blacked out. The only strong color was the white of the milk that made us focus on the glass more and try to understand what has been done to that glass for example poison.

No Country for Old Men

No Country for Old Men

 

In the film No Country For Old Men we have 3 main characters. These are characters are the villain, Sheriff and the normal citizen. We start with the normal citizen we see that he is a hunter who is chasing after dear and trying to kill them for food or to sell for money. He hits one of the dear but it leaves a blood trail from where it ran. He follows the blood and it leads him to some cars that have been left alone. As he approaches them he sees a lot of dead bodies and investigates around the area. He then notices a lot of drugs in the back of the car. So he would think it was a drug deal that has gone wrong. He then is able to find another man who is dead holding a briefcase full of money. He then takes the money and hides. This is when the villain comes into the story. The villain is a hired hit man who is going to try and kill the citizen. The citizen is confused on how the hit man is finding him and following him. He then notices that there is a tracker inside the briefcase. He disposes of the tracker but as he does this he notices that the hit man is inside the building with him. So the citizen prepares himself and sit at the door holding a modified shotgun. This then leads to the action scene this is just them shooting at each other from different places both of them got hit once by each others guns. So after this the citizen runs away in a car and the villain kills the other man in the car with him. After this the citizen just hides and he crosses over the border to try and get away but again this does not work and he gets tracked by the villain and the private eye/ detective and the private eye was killed by the villain. Also the villain gave the citizen a chance to save his wife but he did not take the opportunity and ended up getting himself killed and his wife killed. He hid the money in some bushes but went back to get the briefcase and got killed while he had it. At the end we do not know who had the money. This is because we saw Mexicans running from the scene of the crime but also the lock was blasted in like how the villain always does to locks. So we do not know who killed him or who had the money. The Sheriff didn't do to much through the film but at the end was talking about his dream. The MacGuffin was when all the characters cared about the money but the audience wasn't to bothered about that we just wanted to know what would happen in the end and who would die and who would actually live.

Source Code

Source Code

 

 

Source code is a film that is supposed to confuse you by using a lot of different terminology. This is used as a light term here as this is because it is like the main character is a person within a person within a person. That is in a universe within a universe. As we know the main characters name is Shaun for most of the time. He is getting sent back a huge amount of times to try and figure out how to get rid of the bomb from the train. He does not want to but he carries on doing it as he really has no choice. He quickly starts to disagree with what is happening to him and why he is doing this. One of the biggest plot twist that is in the film is when he finds out that he is actually dead. He was in a helicopter crash. He discovers this and does not want to be part of this experiment anymore. This is when we get fully introduced to the leader of this operation. The boss would not let him go. This is because he is one of the only people in the world who's injuries and brain stimulation will allow him to do the task which is set. At this point, Shaun believes he can save everyone on the train. This is because he has noticed he is not going back in time but rather, going to an alternate universe where the events have not yet occurred. Due to this reason, he wants to save everyone on the train instead of failing and letting them die even thought his job was completed and the terrorist was caught. Now because the job was completed there is no need to send him back into the machine. So the women who talks to him throughout the whole film called Goodwin goes against the order to wipe his memory and prepare to prepare him for the next job and lets him live. She ends up sending back in to save everyone on the train. Shaun successfully does this and we still think the universe is going to end, but because he has saved it the universe carries on living with Shaun in the universe. So because he has managed to do this he is in that universe living on his life as a normal person. One technique that is used is a red herring. This is because we think once he saves the train that universe is over and will not continue. Also a plot twist is used in this film. This was when we think that Goodwin will not send him back to another universe however she does. Again another plot twist is used this was when we was told there is no possible way to send a text from another universe to someone in an alternate universe. Shaun proves this theory wrong by doing it and the text basically said. He has save all of the people on the train in every universe. So when Goodwin goes to the radio/TV it talks about a failed terrorist train bombing attack.

The Birds

The Birds

 

This film was Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and was published in 1963. The genre of the film is a Horror/Thriller. 

Alfred Hitchcock's external threat is from nature in this film. Usually in Hitchcock's films there is no where to hide. Including The Birds as in this film Bodega Bay is no where to hide

The start of the film shows the only red herring in the film. The red herring that appears is when the audience thinks that the genre of the film would be a romance. However a red herring occurs and the genre is twisted into a horror/thriller. 

In this scene of The Birds Hitchcock has used many effective camera angles. This scene is a very horrifying scene. Hitchcock has used extreme close up scenes of the woman. He then moves the scene to a point of view to show what she is looking at. He then goes back to the close up scene which shows a reaction shot. 
Hitchcock uses no sound within this scene, he does this to add tension. 
As the man is shown with his eyes pecked out, Hitchcock uses the three jump cut scene. This zooms into the man three times which adds horror and suspense.

 

 

Also Alfred Hitchcock has used many different camera angles in other scenes. In this scene he used high and low camera angles. He uses high camera angles to show a birds eye view. This also can highlight the point of view of the birds. As it is a high camera angle looking down on the children it shows that the children are weak whereas the birds can do what they want and look strong. Hitchcock uses a low camera angle to show that the birds are strong and that nothing can over power them.

 

Lighting

Lighting

 

There are many different lighting methods to give different viewpoints and techniques.

 

On a standard set up these lights are used:

• The Key light is the brightest and the most influential.
• The Back light helps counteract the effect of the key light or creates an outline or silhouette.
• The Filler light helps to soften the harsh shadows that the use of key and back lights create.

These lights are used to create an effect or technique:

• Underlighting is when the main source comes from below the subject.
• Top lighting is when the main source comes from above the subject.
• Back lighting is when the main source comes from behind the subject.
• Low key lighting is made when using the key and back lighting.
• High key lighting appears more realistic as more filler lights are used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enB1NS1DLKw

 

(I tried to include the lighting exercise video but it said the web address was wrong but the link works)

Sound exercise and Evaluation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KOhPjV-p5w

(When I tried to put the video on here, it said the link didn't match any videos on youtube.)

The story in this video was about two people trying to persuade another person to go out with them.
During this sound exercise it was beneficial to use the microphone as we managed to show exactly what everyone is saying. We also used the master shot and the over the shoulder shot to show all three sides of the conversation. We also used other shots such as pan and point of view. We was able to create all of the following techniques. We created the master shot by placing the camera on the tripod and fitting everyone in the frame. The over the shoulder was used when we was playing the game on the computer.
Looking back on the film we did use each technique accurately. However, I don't think we correctly used the microphone as their was still some parts in the film that couldn't be understood to its full extent.
Overall the most positive elements of the film was the new shots we introduced that was not in the previous film. The only fault was the lack of use of the microphone.

Sound

Sound

 

Diegetic Sound - This is any sound presented as originated from source within the films words. E.g voices of characters or sounds made by objects in the story.

 

Non-Diegetic Sound - This is represented as coming from the source outside the story space. E.g Narrator commentary.

 

Parallel Sound - This is when the sound we hear should suit the image on screen. E.g in a horror film, if a murder was to be attempted, dark and fast paced music would suit the action.

 

Contrapuntal Sound - This is when the sound on the screen does not match the action. E.g in a thriller, a car chase has classical music.

Research into Certification

Research into Certification

 

Rated U - Suitable for Everyone.

Rated PG - Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Rated 12 - People aged 12 and over can watch this.

Rated 15 - People aged 15 and over can watch this.

Rated 18 - People aged 18 and over can watch this.

Rated R18 - Adult works for licensed premises only.

Cinematography

Cinematography

 

 

Camera Shots

 

Point of View shot - Shows a view from the subject perspective.

Over the Shoulder shot - Looking from behind a person at the subject.

Extreme Close up - It shows extreme detail of the subject.

Close up - A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole shot.

Mid Shot - Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still not taking up the whole shot.

Wide Shot - The subject takes up most of the frame.

Very Wide Shot - The subject is barely visible.

Extreme Wide Shot - The view is so far from the subject that he is not visible.

 

 

Camera Movements

 

Dolly - The camera is on a cart which moves along a track to keep a smooth movement.

Pan - Horizontal movement.

Tilt - Vertical movement of the camera.

Track - Movement which stays a constant distance from the action.

Production and Schedule

Production Schedule Location Visit Sheet   Programme Title: Cross The Line Client: School? Writer: Dylan Smith and Emma Porter Producer: DERJ Productions Director: Dylan Smith Date: January at some point.

Rough Sketch/Explanation of location and key points to note       Access to location via: Fordyke Road, Emma’s Dad’s Car.       Name and number of location contact: Tina Turnbull – 07737724454

Health and Safety Issues to note:   ●      DON’T give Reece car keys! ●      Let Dylan sit in the driver’s seat ●      Dylan nor Reece can drive!

Potential Filming Problems :   ●      It may get too dark to film ●      We’re all busy at different times.

Additional Notes:  (map of area/weather forecast etc)